Frederick county sees second heroin overdose in one week

A Frederick County woman died early Thursday morning as a result of a heroin overdose, marking the second overdose the county has seen in one week, according to a Virginia State Police news release.

The release stated that the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 100 block of Easter Ridge Lane before 7 a.m. for a medical emergency.

“Rita F. Livermore, 49, was found deceased inside the residence from an apparent heroin-related overdose,” the release stated. “Her remains were transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Manassas for examination and autopsy.”

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force are investigating the incident.

Since Jan. 1, the release stated, authorities have responded to a total of eight heroin-related fatalities. Authorities also said they believe a heroin overdose accounted for the death of a 34-year-old New York man in Frederick County on March 13.

Virginia State Police Supervisory Special Agent Jay Perry, coordinator of the task force, said authorities are “aggressively pursuing those selling and using heroin within our communities,” according to the release.

Perry also called for residents’ involvement in saving lives in the future, requesting they call their local sheriff’s office if they suspect drug activity, and for parents to talk to their children about drugs, the release stated.

The task force includes sheriff’s offices from Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah and Warren counties, as well as Front Royal, Strasburg and Winchester police departments, and the Virginia State Police.